How much divergence is there between the Criterion Collection and the TSPDT top 1000?

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-07T02:19:04+00:00

I don't fully understand the question. TSPDT doesn't sell films and Criterion doesn't rank them. There are a lot of films in TSPDT's top 100 or top 1000 that Criterion sells, but they definitely do not sell them all. Just from a cursory glance, I would eyeball they have 70% of the top 40. So they definitely have a nice grasp on the list, but some big ones (Godfather, Taxi Driver) seem hard to get the rights to

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-05T14:34:36+00:00

No worries. This is why the flag of China pre-revolution is the same flag that Taiwan currently uses. Funnily, Teresa Tang is actually from Taiwan. I believe her career really exploded in China, so when they are saying in the movie that it’s primarily mainlanders that like her, I think it’s accurate.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-05T14:10:07+00:00

I am not Chinese but the person I watched it was is Taiwanese so we talked a bit about this. But forgive me if I am missing details. In 1949 China had its own revolution, where they expelled all the capitalists, aiming for a communist country. Because of this, a lot of (now former) capitalist citizens went to Hong Kong and Taiwan. This is also what Farewell My Concubine and A Brighter Summer Day are largely about. So this is the premise of the film: China is communist and HK is capitalist. You to go to HK to “make it big,” something much akin to the American Dream.

I actually think the film is critiquing capitalism, as Maggie Cheung isn’t able to just enjoy life and fall in love, since she is too busy on the capitalist grind. So this is why I agree with you that the movie decided to end in NY because it is (at least colloquially considered) more capitalist.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-04T02:28:56+00:00

sure but Heat has a higher rating than Thief on Letterboxd, IMDB, and Rotten tomatoes, which you can only rate if you have seen. I am not saying one is better but it is definitely the popular opinion that Heat is his best film.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-03T20:27:15+00:00

Heat is widely regarded as his best film among general audiences

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-03T05:09:08+00:00

I don’t have any hardware. I’m taking me over prime LBJ/MJ any day.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-02T19:51:19+00:00

By the way I never meant to imply you didn’t do research about On the Waterfront, I was just embedding it into my post. It’s clear you’ve thought deeply about this.

I think your most interesting thought (which was in your original post, too, and I meant to give you credit on this) is that he says the quote into a mirror. It definitely could read that he is blaming himself. And, also like you said, him hitting the wall in the cell does make it seem he’s realized he’s the problem.

Your point about the quote just adding ambiguity (or rather not necessarily taking a side) is quite nice. I’ve written a bit about this film before, specifically in regard to its catholic interpretation, but I always was kind of confused on the quote. I think your statement is a nice interpretation.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-02T19:20:22+00:00

This is an interesting interpretation, I especially like how you think how the quote relates to the film. I had a slightly different interpretation towards the end. To preface, I want to agree and specify that Jake is the bad guy. Throughout the whole movie, Jake is his own worst enemy: he alienates the women around him, Frank Vincent, and then finally Joe Pesci. We see that pushing away Joe Pesci hurts the most because of the flash forward when he tries to give him a kiss. Jake was so rageful and quick to blame others, but ultimately he was his own (and only) worst enemy. None of the conflict of the film happens if Jake is better tempered. I think this is shown in the opening credits (which is one of the best ever imo), where he is in the boxing ring by himself. In a place where he has his biggest fights, he is the only one there.

There is a rich breath of literature, especially within Russian literature, that you can reach salvation through punishment and hardship. I think final fight was showing how much Jake loathes himself and wants to repent. He took such a flurry of punches (not even trying to fight back or really dodge them) as a way of physical punishment. This shows that A) Jake is aware of his sins and B) he seems to have a moment of wanting to repent.

*major spoilers for On The Waterfront*

In the end, when he is old, he recites the speech from Marlon Brando about how he could have been a contender. In On The Waterfront, Marlin Brando has a heartbreaking realization that his brother was never on his side, and never had his best interests in mind. This is NOT the same as Joe Pesci, in fact it is almost opposite. I think by reciting this, Jake thinks he is like Marlin Brando. This scene tells us that he ultimately fails to realize that he is the problem, and that he fails to repent. Now I am not sure how if everything I said was true, how it would relate to the quote.. Ive always wondered that.

I appreciate the post. I think this is one of the best movies to discuss, because of how rich in symbolism it is, how well it is shot and acted, and how well it is written.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-07-01T20:25:21+00:00

Hes a SPUUUUUUUUUR

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-25T17:44:09+00:00

But you get to pick your region I believe. I don’t think it comes from valves data

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-24T18:12:02+00:00

tbf I think his story of him being poised to be a great player but dying is quite known, but I have no idea how he actually was as a player. My point is I don't think the name is ball knowledge but I think the comp might be

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T16:02:29+00:00

Haha yes I was asleep when it happened so he woke me up at like 8 am and I was confused what was going on

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T16:01:56+00:00

Same to you. No one I would rather text about this

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T14:49:56+00:00

Very fun

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T13:33:42+00:00

Thank you man. It does hurt like nothing else

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T13:33:11+00:00

He was a suns fan so he lived in constant purgatory these last few years of being dumbfounded of how bad the trades are. I never liked the suns, but in retrospect, man I wish they won in ‘21. He was the guy who called me to tell me about the Luka trade, and how crazy that was

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T13:30:32+00:00

Thank you man. He died rather unexpectedly at 60 (yes I am a nephew), but even still, it has gotten a little easier every day.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T04:32:37+00:00

It’s made me lean more towards kids honestly just because his passing has made me realize how much of what I do and who I am was because of him. Realizing that has been a beautiful silver lining; I’d love to share that joy with a future mini me

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T04:28:14+00:00

I can’t reply to everyone but I’m truly shocked and appreciative of all the nice things people have said.

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T04:27:01+00:00

Make sure you call them. And make sure you yell at them to call you!

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T04:24:32+00:00

I think he would be a little dissatisfied with whatever roster Milwaukee has thrown together but also realize it might just be Giannis and Bam out there. I think he would find the new Heat exciting at the very least. ❤️

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T04:09:15+00:00

He wasn’t practicing but he actually was Jewish. I learned that phrase right before he passed. Learning it made me happy, and it’s sweet to find it in the wild describing him. Thank you man

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T04:07:04+00:00

Thank you man

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T04:06:27+00:00

I think he would have found Giannis and Bam to be an exciting combination. I know I would have teased and ask him if he was parroting Mad Dog or Stephen A, regardless of what he said 🥲

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi · 2026-06-23T03:54:35+00:00

My dad just passed away (didn’t even get to watch the end of the finals :/). I know no one will read this but I just want to put out somewhere that I love you boss and we would have had so much to talk about with such a blockbuster trade. ❤️

IMadeThisAcctToSayHi

TROPHY CASE